Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, SC

The aim of this project is to catalog and define dermal lesions found on wild and captive sand tiger sharks. Dermal lesions are photographed and biopsied. The tissue samples are preserved and sent for histological examination by Dr. Tammy Johnson, a board certified veterinary pathologist. A variety of dermal lesions have been characterized and identified. Preliminary results of this project have been presented at a national veterinary meeting. Plans are in place to sample and identify any new lesions that are noted in sharks as they are collected.